Yet another oil grade question: 20W50 in the winter?

[MarkD in NJ]

All, I know we've probably been over this before and I've read a lot about motor oil and E28s over the years.

I'm running Castrol 20W50 in my '84 533i and it is starting to go below 20F at night here in NJ. I am able to keep the car in my garage that does not go below 40F most nights. On nights that I can't get into the garage (Wife gets there first), I am worried about about cold starts with 20W50.

Should I be worried - the owner's manual claims 20W50 is good to 15F, but the oil is mighty thick at that temperature.

I'm leaning towards switching to Castrol 10W40 for the remainder of the winter, keeping in mind that it is only good up to 45F.

Please let me know whatever you think...

Thanks, Mark

[RonW]

I'm out on Long Island, so I figure the climate is similar to NJ. I'm using Mobil 1 15W50 EP year round. Forget about the car's owner's manual- it's 20 years old, and oil technology has advanced since then.

Mobil 1 15W50 EP has a pour point of -42°C. I tried some equivalent grade Brand-X dino oil once, and it barely oozed out of the container even at above-freezing temperatures.

Besides, given what the temperature has been doing around here (it was room temperature outside recently) do you really want an oil that's only good up to 45°F?

[MarkD in NJ]

Besides, given what the temperature has been doing around here (it was room temperature outside recently) do you really want an oil that's only good up to 45°F?

Yeah...this is exactly my point. I would switch to 15W50, but I am hesitant to switch to a synthetic oil on a 100k motor that currently doesn't leak a drop or have any other issues. Plus I have 5 cases of 20W50 in my garge...

Mark

[patrick]

I've had good luck running 15w-40 in the winter and 20w-50 in the summer. In the 15w-40, I've used Mobil Delvac, Shell Rotella, and for the last 25k miles or so, WalMart Supertech. 295,500 miles and still going...

Patrick

[Zack Lozoff]

FWIW, I've used Mobil 1 15-50 since buying Heidi with 130k with no problems. Cold starts at 0deg and below are never a problem. 10-40 dino oil, however, would probably be a good alternative, as long as you are ready to change the oil once the temps creep above 40 or so.

[KillerPM]

My car starts great at -10F (-20 - -25 C) using 10W40 Castrol dyno.

Takes less then 10 seconds for oil light to go out.

[cgraff]

Besides, given what the temperature has been doing around here (it was room temperature outside recently) do you really want an oil that's only good up to 45°F?

Yeah...this is exactly my point. I would switch to 15W50, but I am hesitant to switch to a synthetic oil on a 100k motor that currently doesn't leak a drop or have any other issues. Plus I have 5 cases of 20W50 in my garge...

Mark

Lubromoly has some good options. It's 5w-40 full synthetic is great for mid-90s BMWs (M50s, M60s, etc). I've used Mobil 1 0w-40. They've also got 0w-40, and 10w-40 synthetic.

The 10w-40 LubroMoly anti-friction is probably a great choice for M30s in severe winter weather.

I've used 15w-50 Mobil 1 on the M535i in NJ winters, in basically anything down to 0 F with no really big issues.

-Chris

[CCWHEEL]

I use Castrol 15w-50 Syntech all year round with no problems at all. It's been below zero here several mornings and my 5er starts just fine after sitting outside all night.

CC
88 528

[a]

I use 20w 50 dino down to 10f. Then i switch to 10w40 dino until over night temps rise into the 20s. 1st oil change after St Paddy's Day usually.Ive started the car as low as -15f with 10w 40. Let the engine warm a bit and drive easy the first few miles.

[Pat]

My eta engine has over 275,000 miles on it and i run 5w30 bmw synthetic year round. Car needs a cam seal and even with that i dont have to top off between changes.

[Marinersfan]

Ok, now that it took 30 min to jump start my car I need to switch to a different oil. The temps have been fairly mild as in only getting down to near zero but now the temps are consistently down to -30 below with the wind chill. Is 15-50 still going to provide easier start ups? I see where several of you use 10W 40 all year. That's fine if you live down south OR you have the capability to garage your car. I up here about 30 miles away from where hell freezes over and no garage. Help me out here fellas. Thanks!!!

[patrick]

Your oil doesn't care about wind chill.

Here's the chart from the Bentley manual. Look at the thermometer. Pick an oil.



Patrick

[Mless5]

"The 10w-40 LubroMoly anti-friction is probably a great choice for M30s in severe winter weather"

x2. I tried using some Castrol, I dumped it a day after. Engine started to knock like crazy. I tried Mobil 5-40, but my head gasket started to seep. I go to NH quite often so I just stop by BavAuto.

[Patrick McHugh]

With the money you would have spent buying different oil, buy a block heater! $18

[Boru]

With the money you would have spent buying different oil, buy a block heater! $18

Doesn't help if you have no place to plug in...

[MarkD in NJ]

With the money you would have spent buying different oil, buy a block heater! $18

Excellent idea...care to recommend one?

[dcbrewmeister]

The trick down here is during winter months, they stop selling 20 / 50 anything I found some at the last Pep Boys that had some left over. It doesn't get cold enough down here to worry about other oils. I'm sure up north they stop carrying the "thicker" oils during winter months.

[MarkD in NJ]

I'm sure up north they stop carrying the "thicker" oils during winter months.

I've never found this to be the case in NJ/NY/PA. I don't think Pep Boys has much 20W50 in stock to begin with. BJs and Costco always have a few pallets.

Mark

[KillerPM]

The trick down here is during winter months, they stop selling 20 / 50 anything I found some at the last Pep Boys that had some left over. It doesn't get cold enough down here to worry about other oils. I'm sure up north they stop carrying the "thicker" oils during winter months.

I cant get any oil at any time in Canada.

[MarkD in NJ]

Last night when I left work, it was 17F and my 533i (w/ 20w50)turned over so slowly that it barely started. When it did start, the engine made horrible knocking and grinding noises for about 30 seconds before it started to run smoothly. It has been doing this whenever the temp is below 25-30F, hence my concern regarding running 20w50 at the lower end of the allowable range. These noises can't be good!

I switched to Castrol 10w40 when I got home. This morning at 8F, the car started quickly and did not knock at all. The motor also seemed smoother on the drive to work this morning.

FWIW, my father drove his '89 325i (M20, which has the same oil recommendations at the M30) for 407k miles (sold in April '06, but still going...) with various brands of dino 10w40 year round with no oil consumption or wear issues.

I'll switch back to 20w50 in the 533i as soon as the temperature is consistently out of the allowable 10w40 range.

Mark

[dedohdawgs]

so now I am confused. I posted about a cold start and wondered if oil weight could influence things. Someone said that it was in no way related. Yet here Mark changes to 10w and he fires right up and runs great!

So what is a guy lacking knowledge to do????

[Zack Lozoff]

Yes, oil weight has an effect on starting. Not everyone's engine is in the same shape, and conditions may vary. Now then, lighter oil will definitely make for easier starting in subzero temps. 10 w 40, 10 w 30, take your pick, as long as we're talking dino oil. However, the beauty of running synthetic (well, one of the beauties, anyway) is that it's low-end 'pour point' is WAY lower for the same grade of mineral oil. So, I run 15 w 50 Mobil 1 year round, with no problems; whether it's -5 like it is right now, or 85-90 in the middle of August, it doesn't matter. In short, after coming here for advice, you have to try it out, and see if it works. In my experience, it usually does.

[RonW]

Last night when I left work, it was 17F and my 533i (w/ 20w50)turned over so slowly that it barely started. When it did start, the engine made horrible knocking and grinding noises for about 30 seconds before it started to run smoothly. It has been doing this whenever the temp is below 25-30F, hence my concern regarding running 20w50 at the lower end of the allowable range. These noises can't be good!

With Mobil 1 15W50 EP, the car starts and runs just fine, and it's been about 12°F the last couple of days.

[dcbrewmeister]

I'm sure up north they stop carrying the "thicker" oils during winter months.

I've never found this to be the case in NJ/NY/PA. I don't think Pep Boys has much 20W50 in stock to begin with. BJs and Costco always have a few pallets.

Mark

WOW - maybe I should move up there - not

When it hit Oct/Nov time frame, the stuff just was gone, no 20/50 anywhere. The only reason I get it from Pep Boys is they are about the only one that has the Castrol Synth blend in the 20/50 flavor.

[MarkD in NJ]

I'm sure up north they stop carrying the "thicker" oils during winter months.

I've never found this to be the case in NJ/NY/PA. I don't think Pep Boys has much 20W50 in stock to begin with. BJs and Costco always have a few pallets.

Mark

WOW - maybe I should move up there - not

When it hit Oct/Nov time frame, the stuff just was gone, no 20/50 anywhere. The only reason I get it from Pep Boys is they are about the only one that has the Castrol Synth blend in the 20/50 flavor.

I found all flavors of Castrol (including dino and Synth blend 20w50) at Shoprite last night...quarts only, but it was there.

Mark

[dcbrewmeister]

I'm sure up north they stop carrying the "thicker" oils during winter months.

I've never found this to be the case in NJ/NY/PA. I don't think Pep Boys has much 20W50 in stock to begin with. BJs and Costco always have a few pallets.

Mark

WOW - maybe I should move up there - not

When it hit Oct/Nov time frame, the stuff just was gone, no 20/50 anywhere. The only reason I get it from Pep Boys is they are about the only one that has the Castrol Synth blend in the 20/50 flavor.

I found all flavors of Castrol (including dino and Synth blend 20w50) at Shoprite last night...quarts only, but it was there.

Mark

Uhhhhmmmm - what's a "shoprite"?

[EuroShark]

20W50 Valvoline in my E28 since I got it... Starts fine with the oil light going within about 5 seconds on the coldest mornings (0 - 10 degrees). 109,000 miles might have something to do with that, nice fresh bearings!

[MarkD in NJ]

Uhhhhmmmm - what's a "shoprite"?

Grocery store chain...www.shoprite.com

[slash02]

out in the freezing north we run 5w50 synth all year round. works like a charm, but you do have to have good engine seals. at $8 litre its expensive